Ugne Vicyte

East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs

Key Issues

• Poverty and income inequality
• Employment
• Youth work

Candidate Profile

Why do you want to be an MSYP?

From a young age, I have always been told that I have a strong, powerful voice and now I'm determined to use it to support young people in my area. Being a young person can be challenging, from discovering your identity to facing difficulties in school, at home and in your social life. I believe every young person deserves to feel heard, respected and represented regardless of the challenges they face. I want to work alongside my peers to make sure their concerns are heard and acted on. As an MSYP, I'd bring that voice to a wider platform by campaigning on the issues that matter most to young people here in East Lothian and pushing for real change.

How will you consult with the young people in your area or organisation to ensure that they are represented well and their voices are heard?

I will make sure that young people are at the heart of everything I do as an MSYP. Before taking action on an issue, I will consult with young people to understand their experiences, opinions and priorities. I will speak to young people in my community as well as attending East Lothian Youth Voice to ensure I hear a diverse range of views. I will also create social media accounts where young people can easily share their ideas, concerns and issues with me. I hope to meet regularly with young people both in person and online so they can stay involved and updated. I will be able to take the views I gather to decision-makers and make sure young people know how their voices have been represented. Most importantly, I will listen without judgement and ensure that every young person has an opportunity to be heard.

Why should someone vote for you?

I have lived in East Lothian for most of my life, so I have seen and experienced many of the challenges young people face here. Through being involved in a variety of social groups and meeting people from different backgrounds, I believe I have developed a strong understanding of the issues affecting young people and how important it is to listen to their experiences.
One of the things I am determined to address is the expansion and improvement of youth centres. Yes, there are many across East Lothian, but does anyone really know about them? Certainly not in my area. I would advocate for effective advertising and for opening hours to be extended into weekends and late evenings, in the hope of deterring antisocial behaviour. But most importantly, to give young people a safe space to forget their problems, relax and spend time with their friends.
Voting for me would not simply give me a ‘title’. It would give me the opportunity and responsibility to represent young people, make their voices heard and work with them to create meaningful change in East Lothian and Scotland.